October 23, 2017

Speaker inspires local Catholics to continue standing for life

REGIONAL
Story and photos by Carolee McGrath

 

CHICOPEE – More than 140 people gathered at the Castle of Knights on Memorial Drive in Chicopee for the 24^th annual breakfast sponsored by the political action committee for the Civil Rights for Unborn Children, Sunday, Oct. 22, at 10 a.m.

The breakfast raises money for pro-life candidates running for the Massachusetts state legislature. Catholic author and retreat leader Bryan Mercier was the keynote speaker.

“Human beings are special. That’s the way God made us. Once we lose sight of that, it’s easier to justify euthanasia. It’s easier to justify contraception. It’s easier to justify abortion,” Mercier told the crowd.

Mercier travels across the country, leading youth group and confirmation retreats, college retreats, and workshops. He wrote the book Why Do You Believe in God and has appeared on EWTN. During his talk, he shared how his own mother was encouraged to abort him when she was expecting back in 1973, not long after the Roe v. Wade decision. The controversial U.S. Supreme Court decision legalized abortion on-demand.

“Everyone told my mom to abort me because my dad had lost his job and we were going to be poor and not have a good life. I’m am allowed to be here today because my mom chose life,” Mercier explained. The oldest of six children, Mercier said he has helped young people over the years who have struggled with self-esteem issues, some of whom considered suicide.

“I’ve talked to kids in high schools and on retreats. They have so much pain at a young age — kids cutting themselves, kids with eating disorders,” he said.

“If I wasn’t around, none of those people would have been helped. One life makes a huge difference,” he said, emphasizing how God has a special purpose for every human being.

His words inspired those in attendance, including 17-year-old Brianna Kardisco, a senior at Pope Francis High School in Chicopee. Kardisco is also a member of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Chicopee and its youth group.

“I thought it was really good,” Kardisco said. “I got more into being pro-life after I went to the March for Life. It made my belief stronger,” she added.

Dorothy Moreau, a mother and grandmother, organizes the breakfast each year.

“This organization started 24 years ago. It started with John Day,” said Moreau. John Day was a longtime pro-life advocate in the Diocese of Springfield.

“I know this is what I’m supposed to do. I always felt that if you can reach one more person you’ve done your job,” said Moreau, who is also a member of St. Anthony of Padua Parish. She added she was encouraged to have younger people in the crowd.

“We’ve been able to get to some of the younger groups there. This is where we’ve got to go now. We have to have the younger people take the lead,” she said.

Moreau was encouraged by Mercier’s call for all Catholics to pray for the most vulnerable in society, especially the unborn, the terminally ill and elderly.

“Every time we try to play God bad things happen,” said Mercier in his closing remarks.  “God loves us. He’s given us life. He wants us to go to heaven and he wants heaven to be packed.”